Grain-measuring device



(No Model.)

W. J. RIGARDS.

GRAIN MEASURING D EVIGB.

Patented Oct. 12, 1886'.

UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE.

WILLIAM JOSEPH RIOARDS, OF BRIDGEVILLE, DELAWARE.

GRAIN-MEASURING DEVlCE.

EJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,503, dated October12. 1886.

Application filed April 29, 1886. Serial No. 200,550. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM JosEPH Bro- ARDS,of Bridgeville, in the county of Sussex and State of Delaware, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Measuring Devices;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in gra1n-measuring devices.

The object is to provide a simple attachment for the bagger of athrashing-machine, by means of which all the grain passing therein onits passage from the machine may be quickly and accurately measured. 1

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of the meter in endelevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

A represents a hollow box or receptacle, square or rectangular in thepresent instance, in which the grain is measured. The box is provided attwo opposite corners with apair of spouts, B and O, for receiving anddischarging the grain. The smaller spout, B, is adapted to fit on themachine, and is provided with a series of perforations, b, in its side,while the larger one, 0,- acts'as an outlet simply. The

spouts are located at the corners of the receptacle, to always insurethe complete filling and emptying of the said receptacle, so that thegreatest accuracy in measurement may beattained. At points 0 and a, atthe bases of the spouts B and C, respectively, the doors or gates D andE are located. Each door is provided at its central portion with anoperating-rod, d. The rods d slide in perforations 6, formed in a bar,G, the latter being secured to the ,box by a pair of brackets, f, whichserve to hold it at the desired distance away from the side of the box.Between each sliding door D E and the bar G a conical spiral spring, H,preferably of brass wire, is interposed, encircling the rod d, with itslarger end rigidly secured to the bar G, and its opposite end impingingupon a collar, I, which surrounds the rod where it bracketsf. Theextreme inner end of the lever K is widened or provided withoppositelyextending projections m m, to which are hinged thegate-operating arms L L. The opposite ends of the arms L L are providedat their ends with elongated closed slots Z, which embrace studs or pinsa, set in'the sides of the collars I. The arms L L are allowed aswinging motion toward and away from the box A, within slots 2', formedin the bracketsf. The hinge-joints at the junction of the arms L L withthe lever are so constructed that when the lever K rests at right anglesto the side of the box the two arms L L will occupy positions along theface of the box, with their inner end shoulders, of, in contact withtheir corresponding seats on the end of the lever, to allow the latterto swing to the right or left far enough to open one of the slidingdoors.

The following is the operation of the device:

By depressing the lover K in the slot 9, the,

shoulder m being in engagement with the end of the lever, the arm L isswung outwardly, carrying with it the slide-door E. The slidedoor E isheld in this adjustment until the receptacle is entirely filled, asobserved through the perforations in the upper spout, when the lever Kis raised quickly, allowing the tension of the spring H to close thedoor E, thereby cutting off the supply of grain. As the raising of leverK is continued past the center the door D is opened by arm L in likemanner as the door E was opened by the arm L, and the grain is let out.As soon as all of the grain is expelled the door E is again opened, asdescribed, and the receptacle again filled.

.It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form andarrangement of the various parts described without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myselfstrictly to the construction herein set forth; but,

3. In a grain-measuring device, the combination, with the operatingleverpivotally secured to the grain-receptacle, and the shoul' deredoperating-arms hinged to the lever, of

the sliding gates and the springs secured on the gate-operating rods andadapted to close the gates, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J QSEPH RIOARDS.

I Witnesses:

JAMES A. HOUSEL, M. W. WELoH.

